The Willful Prince

The prince has just crossed four years of age. He had been showing signs of genius during every moment of his four long years. His regent had to obey all his headstrong whims. The child’s genius spread to all fields his eyes wandered upon. He traveled a lot and his eyes covered still more spaces.

At his command the most promising young ones in all fields of arts and sciences are caught and brought before him. The gifted upcoming concert singer has to confine to sing lullabies for him. Another great one has to sing to his dream self. And the best of instrumentalists has to herald his waking. Excellent physicians are to prescribe for his coughs and cold. Skilled surgeons have to par his nails. Dexterous architects are commissioned to build his toy houses. Learned scientists have to devise intriguing games for him. Wise philosophers have their only duty of explaining his smile and his finger language. Skilled technicians are asked to devise diapers for him.

He is a willful child. He plays with the best like puppets on strings in his hold. At first they resent and try to wiggle away to freedom. Then they look up, see his smile and relent. Sometimes his string runs through layers of puppets. Often it seems to a puppet that another puppet is pulling it. The prince has his fun in setting his puppets against each other. When he pulls the strings apart they laugh.

The boxer needs the best of punching bags. The well-fed lazy spider spins his lovely home out of himself, wobbles with its walls and laughs together with the echo.

Arogya Bhavan
7.30 p.m.
26 November 2008